293 



most powerful agents, is attacked with tremendous energy. A drop 

 of triethylphosphine falling into tetrachloride of carbon hisses like 

 water poured upon red-hot iron. It is necessary to operate in vessels 

 filled with carbonic acid gas, to prevent the inflammation of the phos- 

 phorus-base, and to accomplish the mixing gradually by using a drop- 

 ping apparatus. Or the force of the reaction may be diminished 

 by employing the two liquids dissolved in anhydrous ether. Here 

 also the relative proportions in which the two compounds are brought 

 in contact, influence in a measure the result of the reaction ; the 

 presence of moisture likewise is apt to change materially the nature 

 of the transformation. 



Obtained in presence or in absence of ether, the product of the re- 

 action is a white crystalline exceedingly deliquescent substance, . Sub- 

 mitted to the action of water, the crystals dissolve with powerful evo- 

 lution of heat, giving rise to an intensely acid solution. On adding 

 dichloride of platinum to this liquid, a crystalline precipitate, very 

 difficultly soluble in water, but soluble in boiling concentrated hydro- 

 chloric acid, is thrown down, which, on analysis, was found to be the 

 forrnylated none thy Itriphosphonium- salt, 



C i9 H 4e P 3 Pt a C1 9 = C H)"' (C 2 H 8 ) 3 PC1 3 , 3Pt Cl a , 



which was identified by conversion into the corresponding iodide, 



The mother-liquor of the triatomic platinum-salt gave, on evapora- 

 tion, orange- yellow octohedra containing 



C 7 H 17 PPt C1 4 = [(C H 2 C1)(C, H 5 ) 3 P] Cl, Pt CI 2 . 

 The liquid from which this salt had been deposited, furnished, on 

 further evaporation, considerable quantities of oxide of triethylphos- 

 phine, which was identified in the form of the beautiful iodide-of- 

 zinc-compound, 



(C 2 H 5 ) 3 PO,ZnI 



described in one of my former Notes. 



The interpretation of these phenomena presents no difficulties. 

 The existence of the hydrogenated radicals (C H) and (C H 2 Cl) in 

 the solution of the products of the action of C C1 4 on (C 2 H 5 ) 3 P, 

 unmistakeably shows that these substances are only secondary pro- 

 ducts, which owe their origin to the action of water upon the 



